Mechanism for massaging



March 23 ,1926. n 1,577,751 I B. S. PASCHALL MEGHANI SM FOR MASSAGING Filed August 9. l92 1 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 23 1926. 1,577,751

B. S. PASCHALL MECHANI SM FOR MAS SAGING Filed August 9, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 certain new and useful Mechanism for Mas.

Patented Mai'. 23,

" :BENJAMIN STUART PA'scnAvLL, 0F sEA'r'rLn, WASHINGTON.

MCHANISM Fon MASSAGIING.

' Application Bled Augusta, 121. Serial No'. 490,852.

To all whom it may concern: j j

Be it known that I, BENJAMTN STUAR'r PAsonnLL, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a saging, of which the following is a specifica--` tion. 3 v

My inventionrelates4 to mechanism for -giving massage. More particularly, my invention. relates to a machine which moves two or more .j rubber applicators having projections, or .other suitable contact members,- for various parts of the surface of the body in such' a way thatwhile most closely imitating" qualitatively vthe various movements-and effects which may be produced .when massageis given by manual application, yet quantitatively greatly improving upon said manual apphcation.

The beneficent effects of massagetreatment for certain conditions and ills, pathologically considered, are well recognized. However, `such treatment vmust be regular and frequently repeated throughout a relaltively long period of'time for its benefits to be developed,v and such treatment in ust be performed accurately to be beneficlal, to omit all reference to the great danger of positive injury if not so performed. VAs

heretofore .commonly administered, such treatment is almost exclusively rendered manually. Such conditions combine to make such treatment so expensive that vits benefits are not available to the great lper cent of those needing such treatment.

As' aids to massage treatment, devices heretofore have been designed for massaging.

various portions of the body by oscillations of a fluid or by vibratory movementsin circles of a single applicator. Such` devices fail to provide for the essential movements which characterize the art of massaging, viz, the alternate stretching and pinching together of the parts engaged so as to pick up the same, as it were, while simultaneously being subjected to an up and down motion which imparts an increasing and decreasing pressure to the parts being treated, the said movements being those which a masseur attempts to obtain by hand.

The principles upon which massage 1s based are'those which have to do' with the artificial production' of changes in the tissues and structures to physiological which the art is applied. Massage is artificial exercise and is applicable to those conditions in which natural exercise is inadequate, unsatisfactory or impossible. Its purpose is to squeeze and work out of the tissues the poisonousl metabolic products and to bring to the treated part a flood of fresh material, or to treat the various tissues and structures of the body so as to restore or keep up the normal nutrition of the parts to which this art isapplied, or even/ in some instances to.. artificially greatly increase it. This is accomplished by means of certain rubbing, rotating, squeezing, stretching and kneading movements. performed in such a manner' that the circulation is increased, fresh nourishment brought to the part so .treated and effete products carried away.

The wasting or' degeneration of the structure is thus prevented, or where wasting and atrophy have already occurred, by means of this art anormal condition Oficirculationmay be restored. Applied to the treatment of the scalp for baldnessl for instance; it is well known that loss of the hair takes place gradually as the arterial circulation becomes restricted and dies out by slow de grees from a thinning of the scalp itself which results in its subsequent contraction over the skull with the tightness of a drum head. The nutrition to each little hair foli licle is thus slowly cut olf and the individual hair itself becomesthinner and thinner and more irregular in its structure from this restricted circulation, until it finally becomes so atrophiedA and reduced in size that it merely remains as 'a short colorless fuzz before final and complete baldness results.

.It has been frequently demonstrated that careful and painstaking massage with the fingers carried over many months or sometimes years will restore the circulation to a `normal condition and following this the will fully restorethe circulation and nutrition of the scalpfl The machine herein described, which embodies my invention, accomplishes this end very eiiiciently and completely.

Baldness or thinning of the hair is entirely due to mechanical causes and not to some parasitic disease, eXcept in al very small'percentage of cases. The top of the head is the highest portion of the body and it is here consequently that the blood pressure is the least. In addition to this when baldness takes place it always begins at those parts of the scalp which are the most terminal of the end branches of the tiny arteries, and baldness almost never becomes so complete as to be observed in that por tion of the scalp where the large arteries exist, since here the thinning process cannot take place. That is, it never becomes complete'because the circulation on the side of the head is always adequate. In those cases where disease yhas caused thinning or falling of the hair the sides of the head suffer as well as the top since a disease process can effect one part of the scalp as well as another. Falling of the hair in men is more frequent and marked than in women for two reasons,-the stiff hat and the natural greater thinness of the scalp in males. The stiff hat starts the cutting off of the circulationand this firstl reduction in blood supply starts what is known in medicine as a pernicious circle. A reduction of blood supply causes contraction of the scalp tissue, and contraction of this tissue causes further reduction of blood supply so that each in turn makes the other worse yuntil orunless it is checked, and a condition of health lrestored by artificially increasing the blood'supply once more, as the herein described machine is claimed to do. The scalp of women is naturally slightlv thicker than in men so there is less complete baldness, but there are as many if not more annoying conditions as far as they are concerned, due to ,theirregular growth of the hair shaft when the circulation is imperfect, so that the -hair keeps breaking o as fast as it becomes a 'few inches in length. The herein described machine has been devised for the successful treatment of the long hair of women as well as the short hair of men.

" `All hair tonics and restoratives contain certain irritable substances whose object is to increase the redness or hyperaemia of the scalp but their effect is not sufiicient to reach the deeper layers of the scalp so as to have any beneficial effect, and reference to any treatise on anatomy will show that thc arteries supplying the scalp are to be found in the subcutaneous areolar tissue between the scalp layer and the bony portion of the skull. Thus as time goes on, where the skin lavers covering the skull begin to contract and tighten, as happens whenever skin is poorly nourished, this tightening down process inevitably further cuts off the small arteries which are lying between it and the skull. This results as already stated in a further restriction of nutrition to the scalp layer whereupon it contracts still mnre and thus a vpernicious circle is set up which slowly results in baldness. The machine which I have devised isv applicable to all of these cases in that it is so'constructed as to actually lift the scalp, loosen it and stretch it as well as causing a temporary increase in circulation so that the little dying arteries have a chance to expand and grow once more and in this way the scalp has restored to it the nourishment which was being cut 0H. A loose, thick scalp is almost always healthy.

The thickness of the skin when the head has become entirely bald is less than one-fourth of that which is well surmounted with hair.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a massaging mach-ine which will impart the movement which characterizes manual massage, viz, the rotary movement. which results in the alternate stretching and pinch/ing together ofthe parts being treated so that the same' are picked up, as it were, while simultaneouslybeing subliected to an'up and down motion which imparts an increasing and decreasing pressure asthe applicators move in and out. Another primary object of my invention` is to provide a massaging machine in which practically all the contacting surface of the applicators is free to make a relatively fixed engagament with the surface being treated while contacting with the same, being particularly adapted to grasp and hold firmly the skin of the hairy portions of the head without becoming entangled with the hair. Finally, a primary object of my invention is to provide such a massaging device which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

The above mentioned general objects'of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained'by the mechanism illustrated in the following drawings, the same being merely preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

Figure l is a plan view of a device einbodying my invention showing the worm with its right and left-handed threads in engagement with the gears.

Fig. 2 is a view in section on broken line 2, 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of an applicator in conjunction with its spindle, the applicator being shown in two positions to show the degree of angular movement preferably permitted the applicator with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spindle;

ployed-the same being shown when the ap- Fig. 4 is a View of the bottom portion or contacting surface of one form of the applicator;

Fig. I'5 is a vlustratin the mounting vand relative p'ofl sit-ions -of the spindles whenrfour. are emplicators are farthest apart;

{through-an angle of 45 from l"shown in Fig. 6;

spindles when the same are rotated throughV .Fig 6 is a diagrammatic View' illustrating the' mounting and relative position of the spindles when the same are rotated through Fig. v V Fig. 7 :is a diagrammatic .view illustratthe mounting and relative position of the spindles 'when the same are rotatedy the position 1 Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic. View illustrating the ,mounti'ng and" rela-tive position of the anangle of 45 from the position shown in Fig. 7;

'.Fig, 10 is a view of still another modified form cfa device embodying my invenv yactuating means adapted 4to have the motor tion "asrespects the actuating means;

spindle embodying'my invention; and

Fig. 12 is a view of a modified form of .mounted on top of the massaging device. An vapplicator 13 of rubber o'r the like (these may be of circular or other `form) vis pressedv upon a spindle vholding member. 1 4, composed of a spindle shank 15 and the" grooved drum 16.4 The said spindle shank is'preferably provided with .a ball 17 and a socket 18, connector means for said applicater. The upper end of said spindle shank 15 -isl preferably provided with a groove 19 into. which a ball is pressed by a spring 21 in the Vrecess 22 of ,the crank lshaft .ec-f

Fig. 5. From these positionS itismanifest centric 23; Gear 24 has keyedl upon it the 'l crank shaft eccentric or disk 23. Provision is made in the device illustrated for three other such spindle 'holding members, namely 25, 26, and 27, all of which are similar in' construction, and all of'which arein realityfcrank pins eccentrically placed withrespect'. tothe disks 23, which latter rotateworin 31 on shaft32 while gears 29 and 3Q mesh .with worm 33. Bearings 34 and 35 are provided Jfor the shaft l32. .A housing,

consisting of a base lplate 36 .and a cover--A ing plate 37 form ahousing for said4 gears and worms, the same being heldtogether by countersunk screws 38.

diagrammatic plan view il- 9 is a view of a modified form of a' Fig. .11 is a view of a modified form of.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 9 the gears 24, 28, 29 and 30intermesh with each other and are actuated by a gear v39 Which intermeshes only with gear 24. By gearing in this manner, substantially the same motion may be imparted to the spindles as is done bythe worms Eiland 3 'In the modified vform shown in Fig. 10, the gears 24, 28, 29 and 30 do not intermesh with each other but intermesh with a single gear 40. This form does not impartthe same motion to the spindles as obtained by the preferred forms heretofore described,

.but cause themto follow .one another in their movements successively as opposed to simultaneously cooperating yby approaching each other and by moving apart.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 11, a spindle having two ball sections 41v and 42 is mounted witharbearing 43 intermediate the applicator 13 and the cranksshaft e'ccen-v tric `23.

' ln thev modified form of ythe actuating means shown in Fig. 12,- vprovision .is made for -mountingthe motor on top of the cover l plate 37 so that its Weight maybe utilized in supplying pressure to the device. A shaft 44 is mounted in bea-rings. 45 and 46-said shaft having a worm 47 which meshes with worm 48 provided on shaft 32. Bevel gears 49 on shaft 44 engage a worm- 50 on the mo tor drive-shaft 51. f v if' f The mode of operation ofmy device is as follows: The shaft 32` is caused to revolve,

preferably by apedal-controlled electric motor, and since Vthe Worms 31 and 33 are oppositely directed, gears 24and 28 Vrevolve in opposite directions to each other, as-,also vdo .gears 29 and 30. This preferable arrangement results in each gearV moving in the opposite direction'to the adjacent gear.

The crank-shaftv eccentrics23 are' `keyed to the said gears 24, 28, 29'and l30. The :sa-id eccentrics hold-the spindlefholding members preferably in: .the ,positions'illustrated in'v that any `movement of; the 4gearswill causcf l i .the side spindle-holding membersi14' and 2S lto'first approach each other,=1as do also the f sidev spindle-holding members 25fand 27, and then the said two side airs together ap-V proach each other. Thus iseected the iinal step of the pinching upv movement. After the ,-spindle-holding members reach their closest togetherposition as respects the (center 52, as s'hownfin Fig.v 7, the Vtwo side spindle-holding members. 14l and 26- move apart, as do also the 'sidel spindle-holding."v members 25 and 27.` `This causeS'spindle-- holding members 26 vand 27. to approach each other, and likewise spindle-holding members 14 and 25. Then all the spindle-holding membersnext move apart in assuming their farthest apart position `as shown in:y Fig. 5. yThus is effected the stretching out."

movement. In assuming these farthest apart and closest together positions and the inin Fig. 7); and third, 45 (from position,

shown in Fig. 7 to that in Fig. 8).

The spindle-holding members 14; are revolvably mounted in the crank-shaft eccen- 'tries 23 so that said spindles need not turn upon their own axis and in this wise all danger is avoided of the` hair becoming broken or entangled about the spindle-holding member when said massaging device is applied to the scalp. i

The ball 17 and socket 18, connector means, 'renders the applicator 13 free to make contact with the part l to be' massaged throughout the entire'engaging surface of said applicator. y

In addition to the pinching together and stretching movements, the eccentrieal mounting of the applicators gives them an up and down movement when applied to a curved or spherical surfacesuch as the scalp.. This can be readily shown by placing a spherical body on the applicators and then cause the applicators to be actuated. The sphere will move up and down,

A plurality ofthe units composed of theV applicator, spindle-holding-members, and crank-shaft eccentric, ormultiples of two or Vfour-of these units larranged to work together as illustrated in the preferred form, -could be used with advantage for Ibodily massage since the four applicators working toward and away from one another with a ball socket' Within the rubber part itself, so that'they may fit any part of the body to which they are applied, fulfill all the requirements for giving mechanical massage to such a degree that. it is equal if not superior to manual applications. Obviously, changes may be made in the form, dimensions, and arrangement ofthe parts of my invention, Without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting' forth only preferred forms of embodimen't.

1. A device of the character described including a plurality of applicators each movable bodily abou't an endless path, and means for operating said applicators to cause them to move in unison, and alternately towards and from every applicator in succession. 2. A massaging device including a plurality of applicators each movable bodily about a center of movement, and means for imparting similar and relative movement to the several applicators to cause each applicator to approach toward and recede from each of the remainingy applicators in succession.

8; A massaging device including a plurality of' applicators each movable bodily a rotary motion as respects the axis of saideccentric to each of sai-d spindles, said ecf centric having a socket andispring and ball snap which extends into a groove in said spindle whereby said spindle may turn in said socket without rotating upon its own axis, and means to actuate said eccentric.

5. A device of the character described embodying a plurality of applicators, 'a spindleholding-member for each of said applicators,

said spindle having flexible means connecting to itself said applicators whereby the contacting surface of said applicator is free to make a 'relatively fixed engagement With the surface being treated while contacting with said surface, a crank-shaft eccentric to actuate each 0f said spindles, and means vto actuate said eccentric.

6. A device of the character described embodying a plurality of applicators, aspindleholding-means for each of said applicators, said spindle having a ball and socket connector means for the applicator' whereby the entire contacting surface of said applicator is free to make a relatively fixed engagement with the surface being treated while contacting .with said surface, a crank-shaft eccentric to actuate each of said spindles, and means to actuate said crank-shaf eccentric.

7 A device of the character described cmbodying a plurality of applicators, a spindle-holding-member for each of said applicators, said spindle having a ball and soci-:et connector means with said applicator whereby vthe entire contacting surface of said applicator is free to make a relativel)v fixed engagement -with the surface being treated while contacting with said surface, a crank-shaft eccentric to impart a rotary motion as respects the axis of said eccentric. to each of said spindles, said eccentric havino a socket and s irinfr and ball snai which tra n extends into a groove in said spindle wherebv said spindle may turn in said' socket without rotating upon its own axis, and means to actuate said crank-shaft eccentric.

8. A massaging device including a plurality of, applicators each bodily movable in a closed path about its individualcenter of movement, the several centers-of movement being relatively iixed, and means 4for moving each applicator through its path with like eccentricity to the respective centers of movement and with each applicator at all times varying in its eccentric position from every other applicator.

9. In combination with a device of the character described, al spindle-holding-member for an applicator, saidV spindle having means on one end whereby it may be releasably engaged and may be rotatively held without turning upon its own axis, and on the other end of said spindle a ball and socket connector means for said applicator.

10. A device of the character described embodying a plurality of applicators, a spindle-holding-member.for each of said applicators, said spindle having a ball and socket connector means with said applicator whereby the entire cont acting surface of said lapplilcator is free to make a relatively fixed engagement with the surface being treated while contacting with said surface, a crankshaft eccentric to impart a rotary motion as respects the axis of said eccentric to each of said spindles, said eccentric having a socket`- and spring and ball snap which extends into a groove in said spindle whereby said vspindle may turn in said socket without rotating upon its own axis, a gear mounted upon each of said eccentrics, and a worm to actuate said gears.

11. A device of the character described embodying two applicators, a spindle-hold,

ing-member foreach of said applicators. a' crank-shaft eccentric to impart a rotary motion as respects the axis of said eccentric to each of said spindles, said spindles being mounted in the crank-shaft eccentrics in opposite phase, whereby said applicators are alternately and simultaneously moved towards and away from each other.

12. A device of the character described embodying three applicators, a spindle-holding-member for each of said applicators, a crank-shaft eccentric to impart a rotary motion asn'espects the axis of said eccentric to leach of-,said spindles, said spindles being mounted in said eccentrics in triangular` position, two of said spindles being mounted inthe crank-shaft eccentric' to turn in the sa-me direction while thethird spindle turns in the .opposite direction to said first named spindles, whereby said three applicators are alternately and simultaneously moved towards and away from each other.

13. A device of the character described embodying four applicators, a spindle-holding-member.for eachofsa-id applicators, a

. crank-shaft eccentric to impart a rotary moveo tion as respects the axis of, said eccentric to -each of said spindles, said spindles being mounted inthe crank-shaft eccentric equidistantly with respect to each otherthat is,

in the form of a squareand said spindles maintaining said square formation while rotatin sai squarev increasing and decreasing uring said rotation whereby the apa rotary motion as respects the axis of said i eccentric to each of said spindles, said spindles being mounted in the crank-shaft eccentric with equidistant spaces between each adjacent pair of spindles, each two adjacent pairs forming a square andsaid spindles maintaining said square` formation while rotating, said square increasing and decreasing during said rotation whereby the applicators, as respects any adjacent four, are caused to be alternately and simultaneously moved towards and away from each other.

l5. A device of the character described embodying four applicators, a spindle-holding-member for each of said applicators, a crank-shaft eccentric to impart a rotary motionas respects the axis of said eccentric to each lofsaid spindles, said spindles being mounted in the crank-shaft eccentricin opmoved towards and away from each other.

16. A device of they character described `embodying two applicators, a'spi'ndle-holding-member for each of said applicators, said spindle having a ball and socket con necting means with said applicator whereby the/entire contacting surface of said applicater is free to make a relatively fixed engagement with the surface being treated while contacting with said surface, a crankshaft eccentric to impart arotary motion as respects the axis of said eccentric to each of said spindles, said eccentric having a socket and spring and ball snap which extends intoa groove in saidspindle whereby said spindle may turn in Said socket without rotating on its own axis, andwsaid spin dle being mounted in the crank-shaft eccentrics in opposite phase whereby said applicato'rs are 'alternately and simultaneously moved towards and away from4 each other.

17. A device of the character described embodying three applicators, a spindle-holding-member for each of said applicators, said spindle having a ball and socket con necting means with said applicator whereby the .entire contacting surface of said applicatbr is free to make a relatively fixed engagement Awith the surface being treated on its own axis, and said spindles being mounted in said eccentrics in triangular position, two of said spindles being mounted in the crank-shaft eccentric to turn in the same direction while the third spindle turns in the oppositedirection to said rst named spindles, whereby said three applicators are alternately and simultaneously moved towards and away from each other.

'18. A device of the character described embodying four applicators, Aa spindle-holding-member for each of said applicators, said spindle having a ball and socket connecting means with said applicator whereby the entire contacting surface of said applicator is free to make a relatively fixed engagement with the surface being treated while contacting with said surface, a crankshaft eccentric to impart a rotary motion as res cts the axis of said eccentric to each of sait spindles, said eccentric having a socket and spring and ball snap which extends into a groove 1n said spindle whereby said :,:pindle may turn in said socket without rotating on its own axis, said spindles being mounted in the crank-shaft eccentric equidistantly with respect to each otherthat is, in the form of a square-and said spindles maintaining said square formation while rotating, said square increasing and decreasing during said rotation, whereby the applicators are caused' to be alternately and simultaneously moved towards and away from each other.

19. A device of the character described embodying a plurality of applicators, a spindle-holding-member for each of said applicators, said spindle having a ball andv socket connecting means with said applicator whereby the entire contacting surface of said applicator is free to make a relativelyl fixed engagement with the surface being treated while contacting with said surface, a crank-shaft eccentric to impart a rotary motion as respects the axis of said eccentric to each of said spindles, said eccentric having a socket and spring and ball snap which extends into a groove in said spindle whereby said spindle may turn in said socket without rotating on its own axis, and said spindles being mounted in the crank-shaft eccentric with equidistant spaces between each adjacent pair of spindles, each two adjacent pairs forming a square and said spindles maintaining said square formation while rotating. said square increasing and decreasing during said rotation whereby the applicators, as respects any adjacent four, are caused to be alternately and simultaneously moved towards and away from each other.

20. Ina device of the character described, j i

a plurality of applicators each bodily movable about its individual axis, said axes bea and recede from each of the other applicators in succession. v

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of July, A. D., 1921. BENJAMIN STUART PASCHALL. 

